Virginia Mary ( Sheppard ) Copeland-Jordan of Hudson MA. Died at her home on Saturday May 28th 2005 following a lengthy illness.
She was Born on November 13th 1937 in Boston Ma and was raised in Cambridge. She is the daughter of Hazel Mae (Chalk) Sheppard and Leonard David Sheppard of Cambridge (both deceased).
She was a graduate of the Cambridge Latin High School class of 1955 and attended the Cambridge City Hospital School of Nursing. She later graduate from the Newton Wellesley School of Nursing and went on to graduate from the University of California San Diego ( UCSD ). Certified Nurse-Midwifery Program.
She was the first nurse-midwife to open an independent private practice with hospital admitting privileges in CA. After returning home to MA she served as the director of the North Shore Birth Center in Beverly MA and later she and her partners opened the first independent nurse-midwifery practice in MA. She served as an instructor and mentor to medical students and nurse-midwifery students at UCSD and at Boston University. She delivered more than 3000 babies during her 25 years career Including her only grandchild. In 2003 she was honored as a pioneer in her field by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
She has survived by her husband Milton G. Jordan of Hudson, her brother Frank L. Sheppard of Randolph, her sister Susanna L. Sheppard of Barnstable, her daughter Deborah-Martin Hardy of Hudson, Her granddaughter Rachel R. Martin of Hudson and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be held Friday June 3rd 2005 at 11:00am in the Tighe-Hamilton Funeral Home Inc. 50 Central St. Hudson. Calling hours will be on Thursday June 2nd 2005 from 2:00 – 4:00pm and 7:00 – 9:00pm. In Lieu of flowers donations can be made in her memory to the U. Mass Memorial Hospice 650 Lincoln Street. Worcester Ma 01605